Ask a Stoner: What Hemp Strains Should I Buy for My Grow?

Just like commercial marijuana, different motivations require strains when growing hemp.

November 24, 2017

Westword

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Dear Stoner: I've been thinking of trying my hand at hemp. Are there certain strains or qualities I should look for?
Madison

Dear Madison: It depends on what you’re growing hemp for. While most industrial hemp farmers nowadays are growing for CBD extraction, hemp has been grown for food and fiber materials for hundreds of years — and both the new and old motivations require different genetics. If you’re growing hemp for seed and fiber so that you can make food, hemp-seed oil, clothes, paper and so on, you’ll probably want European strains of hemp, such as Fibranova or Carmaleonte from Italy.

If you want to grow hemp for CBD extraction, though, you want to stay in this country. Most European strains top out at 4 to 5 percent CBD, but genomic research and selective breeding in America have taken the plant to new heights since states began legalizing medical marijuana. Popular Colorado hemp strains such as BaOx, Cherry and Otto II can reach CBD levels of 15 to 20 percent, and their genetics are used to the Rocky Mountain climate.

Have a question for our Stoner? E-mail [email protected].

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